Rudolf Jaenisch
Encyclopedia
Rudolf Jaenisch is a biologist at MIT. He is a pioneer of transgenic science, in which an animal’s genetic makeup is altered. Jaenisch has focused on creating transgenic mice to study cancer
and neurological diseases.
Jaenisch’s first breakthrough occurred in 1974 when he and Beatrice Mintz
showed that foreign DNA
could be integrated into the DNA of early mouse embryo
s. They injected retrovirus
DNA into early mouse embryos and showed that leukemia DNA sequences had integrated the mouse genome
and also to its offspring. These mice were the first transgenic mammals in history.
Jaenisch is a leader in the field of therapeutic cloning
, also known as nuclear transfer, in which the genetic information from one cell is transplanted into an unfertilized egg that has had its DNA removed. When it is placed in a Petri dish, the egg develops into a blastocyst
from which stem cells can be harvested. Jaenisch’s therapeutic cloning research deals exclusively with mice, but he is an advocate for using the same techniques with human cells in order to advance embryonic stem cell research. However, Jaenisch opposes human reproductive cloning
, where the egg is placed into the uterus of a female, with the hope that it will develop into a fetus.
Jaenisch received his doctorate in medicine from the University of Munich in 1967. He was head of the Department of Tumor Virology at the Heinrich Pette Institute
at the University of Hamburg
. He has co-authored more than 300 research papers and has received numerous prizes and recognitions including an appointment to the National Academy of Sciences in 2003. He is currently a member of the Whitehead Institute and a Biology professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT). He participated in the 2004 science conference on human cloning at the United Nations
and serves on the science advisory boards of the Genetics Policy Institute
and Stemgent
.
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
and neurological diseases.
Jaenisch’s first breakthrough occurred in 1974 when he and Beatrice Mintz
Beatrice Mintz
Beatrice Mintz is an American female embryologist who has contributed to the understanding of genetic modification, cellular differentiation and cancer, particularly melanoma....
showed that foreign DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
could be integrated into the DNA of early mouse embryo
Embryo
An embryo is a multicellular diploid eukaryote in its earliest stage of development, from the time of first cell division until birth, hatching, or germination...
s. They injected retrovirus
Retrovirus
A retrovirus is an RNA virus that is duplicated in a host cell using the reverse transcriptase enzyme to produce DNA from its RNA genome. The DNA is then incorporated into the host's genome by an integrase enzyme. The virus thereafter replicates as part of the host cell's DNA...
DNA into early mouse embryos and showed that leukemia DNA sequences had integrated the mouse genome
Genome
In modern molecular biology and genetics, the genome is the entirety of an organism's hereditary information. It is encoded either in DNA or, for many types of virus, in RNA. The genome includes both the genes and the non-coding sequences of the DNA/RNA....
and also to its offspring. These mice were the first transgenic mammals in history.
Jaenisch is a leader in the field of therapeutic cloning
Cloning
Cloning in biology is the process of producing similar populations of genetically identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as bacteria, insects or plants reproduce asexually. Cloning in biotechnology refers to processes used to create copies of DNA fragments , cells , or...
, also known as nuclear transfer, in which the genetic information from one cell is transplanted into an unfertilized egg that has had its DNA removed. When it is placed in a Petri dish, the egg develops into a blastocyst
Blastocyst
The blastocyst is a structure formed in the early embryogenesis of mammals, after the formation of the morula. It is a specifically mammalian example of a blastula. It possesses an inner cell mass , or embryoblast, which subsequently forms the embryo, and an outer layer of cells, or trophoblast,...
from which stem cells can be harvested. Jaenisch’s therapeutic cloning research deals exclusively with mice, but he is an advocate for using the same techniques with human cells in order to advance embryonic stem cell research. However, Jaenisch opposes human reproductive cloning
Human cloning
Human cloning is the creation of a genetically identical copy of a human. It does not usually refer to monozygotic multiple births nor the reproduction of human cells or tissue. The ethics of cloning is an extremely controversial issue...
, where the egg is placed into the uterus of a female, with the hope that it will develop into a fetus.
Jaenisch received his doctorate in medicine from the University of Munich in 1967. He was head of the Department of Tumor Virology at the Heinrich Pette Institute
Heinrich Pette Institute
The Heinrich Pette Institute - Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology was founded in 1948 by Heinrich Pette, a German neurologist. It began as a research facility to create polio vaccine. It is now a private foundation and involved with basic research in virology and the immune responses of...
at the University of Hamburg
University of Hamburg
The University of Hamburg is a university in Hamburg, Germany. It was founded on 28 March 1919 by Wilhelm Stern and others. It grew out of the previous Allgemeines Vorlesungswesen and the Kolonialinstitut as well as the Akademisches Gymnasium. There are around 38,000 students as of the start of...
. He has co-authored more than 300 research papers and has received numerous prizes and recognitions including an appointment to the National Academy of Sciences in 2003. He is currently a member of the Whitehead Institute and a Biology professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
(MIT). He participated in the 2004 science conference on human cloning at the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and serves on the science advisory boards of the Genetics Policy Institute
Genetics Policy Institute
The Genetics Policy Institute is a 501 nonprofit organization that educates the public and promotes supportive public policy for stem cell research and other forms of cutting-edge medicine....
and Stemgent
Stemgent
Stemgent is an American privately funded biotech company focused on providing reagents and technology developed by some of the world's leading stem cell scientists. Founded in 2008, Stemgent has two fully operational facilities in both San Diego, California and Cambridge, Massachusetts...
.